AnkangWade-Giles romanization An-k’ang, Pinyin Ankang, formerly Hsing-an, formerly Xing’ancity in southeastern Shensi Shaanxi sheng (province), China. Situated It is situated in the narrow valley of the Han River between the Qin (Tsinling) and Ta-pa Daba mountain ranges , it and has been an important trade centre since antiquity, being situated at the junction of the east-west route via the Han River valley and the route to the north over the mountains to Sian (Ch’ang-an). A rail line, completed in 1978, links An-k’ang with Chungking (in Szechwan province) and Hsiang-fan (in Hupeh province) via the Han River valley. It is also in an important strategic area near the borders of Szechwan, Shensi, and Hupeh provinces.It .

Ankang first emerged as an independent administrative centre in the 3rd century ADCE, under the name Liang-chouXicheng. Later, in the 5th century, it took the name Chin-chouJinzhou, the county town bearing the name Hsi-ch’engXicheng. In 1583 the prefecture was renamed HsingX’ing-an. The county town was renamed An-k’ang Ankang in the early 18th century. In 1912 the superior prefecture of HsingX’ing-an was abolished, and it reverted to county status once more. An-k’ang Ankang comprised two separate walled towns and was a flourishing centre of trade, having been intimately linked since the 18th century with Han-k’ouHankou. The city became the collecting centre for the agricultural produce of the surrounding area, which had been extensively colonized only since the 17th century.

Ankang has become a hub of rail communications between Shaanxi, Sichuan, and Hubei provinces. Railways link Ankang with Sichuan province and Chongqing municipality to the south, with Xiangfan in Hubei province to the east, and with Yangpingguan to the west, and from those places Ankang is connected to the national rail network. A rail line between Xi’an and Ankang that tunnels through the Qin Mountain range opened in 2001. The main products of the surrounding area are grains, various types of oilseeds, sesame, hides, and forest products (notably lacquer). Pop. (1990 2002 est.) 142197,170129.